Lancair should not, of  course, be discouraged from exploring a secondary latching mechanism, however don't count on it being "fail safe."



In 100's of hours of flight simulator experiments on a wide variety of aircraft configurations at NASA/Ames "fail safe" gave way to only probability factors.  Even a two pilot command and response checklist was far from fail safe.  (Remember the Boeing copilot called out "pitot heat" and the captain responded "on," and the plane crashed from stalling with a frozen pitot tube.)

It turns out that a well placed RED warning light trumps even a 2 pilot checklist for high probability factors.



The single pilot checklist fared more poorly, of course.



One of the key factors was to (a) not have too many warning lights and (b) command that any light was an abort without questioning prior to V1.  The 24 series Lear Jet had  lights for everything including your birthday, it seemed, and all at the same prominent position.



In Realville, the red warning light for canopy not "down and over center locked" is a solution that is well within reach of any owner for the $20 and a short days labor that is required.  The best engineered secondary latch, while a positive assist, will be a Bridge Too Far for way too many early Lancair owners; and thus the accident rate that hurts lives and insurability will march on.



That isn't to say an open canopy on the early Lancairs and Legacy is a cause to die.  If a takeoff is continued, as has already been stated, keep airspeed modest, avoid configuration changes until at a safe altitude to determine controllability, and return to the field using your findings, which happens to be exactly what the Air Force and Navy advertised in the 60s and 70s.  And in fact, it can and should be tested in a e.g. Legacy.  I nominate Len Fox.  There are safe methods for such a test.



If the 1/2 inch very bright light is deemed too small, Spruce has a Mamma light at 3/4 inch, and if you can feel the hot breath of the wolf at the door, Spruce has the Papa red light that weighs in at a whole inch.



Lancair would be well advised, however, to at least design a secondary latch into the new production kits as they might deem appropriate with tests, data, and probability studies.... as long as they include the red light too.   And please no more icons on the efis(!), as in architecture, form is supposed to follow function, put the death defying bright red light(s) above the slick looking but crowded efis.



Safely is mostly between the ears, but never turn down luck or a beautiful red sexy light.



Jack Addison



Red light installation photos and now a video free for the asking, I'll even help you install it if you come to S39, all free of course.  You buy the Jamison. If you stay over nite, that's free too.  



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